How To Write a Human Resources Resume
A career in human resources gives you a chance to create a better company culture for employees and ensure organizations comply with employment rules and regulations. Find out how to write a human resources resume that can help you land your dream job.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Human resources is about helping people and the company you work for, and your profile summary should give a hiring manager an idea of how you do that. Highlight your ability to bridge the gap between the top-level executives and the employees on the front lines. If you thrive organizing records and reading through employment law, use this space to highlight your best qualities. Use short sentences and try to keep the focus on the value you can bring to the position.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Human Resources Executive with 15+ years of advancement and experience. Skilled at working with department heads to advance short- and long-term business goals. Consistent success developing comprehensive benefits packages for large workforces.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Recent college graduate with a degree in Human Resources and related internship experience. Hardworking, organized, and adaptable to new work challenges and conditions. Experienced and confident public speaker. Fluent in Spanish and currently learning Japanese.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
The professional experience section of your resume is the most important and likely the largest. List your previous positions, including the job title, employer, and dates you worked there. Use strong action verbs to craft bullets that describe your job duties and responsibilities. You can also list specific accomplishments or career highlights in this part, such as how you increased payroll accuracy or implemented a new onboarding process that resulted in higher employee retention rates.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Human Resources Director
Texas Instruments Corporation, Dallas, TX | June 2016-Present
- Encourage department heads to improve overall staff performance and engagement
- Set new hire training strategies, and create content for specific development programs
- Implement and administer company benefits packages
- Spearhead workforce planning and talent development initiatives
- Deliver targeted solutions to build a highly engaged, results-focused organization
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Intern
Casey’s General Store Corporate Office, Des Moines, IA | January 2022-May 2022
- Helped organize virtual hiring fair and conducted remote interviews with over 30 potential hires
- Worked with payroll specialist to ensure each employee’s hours were reconciled properly, leading to a payroll accuracy rate of over 95%
- Gained strong experience in Microsoft Excel, team collaboration, and reporting and documentation
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Showing a potential employer that you have the educational background to succeed in a position can better position you to move on to the next hiring round, and your resume should have a section specifically for your education and certifications. Those who work in human resources may have different backgrounds, so it’s okay if your degree isn’t directly related. You can use a few bullets under your education to explain coursework, projects, or other aspects that prepared you for the position. If you have any human resources certifications or payroll credentials, these should also be included in this section.
Certifications
Template:
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Certified Trainer, National Association of Human Resources, 2020
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business
- The University of Texas at Dallas – May 2011
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Human resources positions involve many types of proficiencies. You need to ensure that the company is following all hiring and employment laws, including as those laws get updated, and that processes and systems are in place to make onboarding, payroll, and terminating employees easier. Adding a key skills section to your resume is a great way to show a hiring manager you have what it takes to succeed, and you can pull keywords and phrases from the job description into this section for further customization.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Change management | Compensation administration |
| Confidentiality skills | Data analysis |
| Diversity initiatives | Employee engagement |
| Employee relations | Ethical conduct |
| HR compliance | HRIS management |
| HR policy development | Interpersonal skills |
| Legal knowledge | Onboarding and offboarding |
| Performance management | Problem-solving abilities |
| Recruitment and talent acquisition | Time management |
| Training and development | Wellness programs |
How To Pick the Best Human Resources Resume Template
The best human resources resume template for you is the one that positions you as a standout candidate and adequately reflects your skills and experience. As you look at templates, keep in mind that hiring managers spend just a few seconds on a resume, so it needs to be clean, easy to read, and well organized. Make sure the template is easily customizable if you want to swap out a section or two without changing all the formatting and spacing.
Human Resources Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Mary Compton
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Des Moines, IA 53958 | linkedin.com/in/marycompton
Profile
Recent college graduate with a degree in Human Resources and related internship experience. Hardworking, organized, and adaptable to new work challenges and conditions. Experienced and confident public speaker. Fluent in Spanish and currently learning Japanese.
Work Experience
Intern, Casey’s General Store Corporate Office, Des Moines, IA | January 2022 to May 2022
[Company headquarters with 250+ employees]
- Helped organize virtual hiring fair and conducted remote interviews with over 30 potential hires
- Worked with payroll specialist to ensure each employee’s hours were reconciled properly, leading to a payroll accuracy rate of over 95%
- Gained strong experience in Microsoft Excel, team collaboration, and reporting and documentation
Key Swing Manager, Casey’s General Store, Des Moines, IA | March 2020 to May 2022
[Retail store with 50+ employees]
- Trained over 10 new employees
- Made weekly schedule and reminded employees of shift changes, improving attendance rates by 45%
- Completed daily closing paperwork
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Human Resources, Iowa State University, Des Moines, IA | September 2018 to May 2022
3.91 GPA | Gamma Phi Beta Sorority | Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
Jerry Smith
(469) 385-2948 | [email protected] | 4759 Sunnydale Lane, Plano, TX 75071
Profile
Human Resources Generalist with 10+ years of experience focused on talent acquisition, development, and performance management.
Professional Experience
Human Resources Manager, Jim’s Widget Factory, Plano, TX | January 2016 to Present
- Implement company policies to ensure all practices comply with labor and employment regulations
- Develop targeted outreach practices to increase minority recruitment and ensure compliance with affirmative action policies
- Monitor scheduled in and out times as well as employee breaks to ensure compliance with employment laws
Highlight:
- Fostered and maintained a positive work environment, raising staff retention and managing workplace satisfaction to more than 90%
Human Resources Generalist, Citibank, Houston, TX | May 2014 to December 2015
- Assisted with recruiting and onboarding, and attended all hiring fairs
- Conducted new hire orientation and continual training
- Coached department managers to equitably discipline and write up employees as needed
- Instructed managers on how to complete regular, actionable employee reviews
HR Assistant / Payroll Specialist, Yardham Ford Dealership, Houston, TX | June 2011 to April 2014
- Created employee incentive programs that improved closure rates
- Set strategies to improve staff morale
- Oversaw payroll reconciliation for accuracy
Highlight:
- Helped reduce employee turnover by 20%
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Business, The University of Texas at Dallas | 2011
Key Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Labor Relations
- Microsoft Excel
- OSHA Regulations
- Reporting & Documentation
- Staff Training
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Texas Employment Law
- TimeForce
- Workplace Safety
Certifications
Certified Trainer, National Association of Human Resources
Susan Powell
(214) 284-2847 | [email protected] | 2847 Cypress Drive, Dallas, TX 75023
Profile
Human Resources Executive with 15+ years of advancement and experience. Skilled at working with department heads to advance short- and long-term business goals. Consistent success developing comprehensive benefits packages for large workforces.
Professional Experience
Human Resources Director, Texas Instruments Corporation, Dallas, TX | June 2016 to Present
- Encourage department heads to improve overall staff performance and engagement
- Set new hire training strategies, and create content for specific development programs
- Implement and administer company benefits packages
- Spearhead workforce planning and talent development initiatives
- Deliver targeted solutions to build a highly engaged, results-focused organization
Human Resources Manager, DoubleTree Hotel, Richardson, TX | March 2012 to June 2016
- Worked with Hilton’s Department of Learning to facilitate regular talent development plans
- Collaborated on ongoing HR projects to ensure employees upheld company standards
- Strategized recruitment to meet the hotel’s changing demands
- Coached department heads to complete each employee’s performance management plans and reviews
- Developed compensation and benefits program
Human Resources Manager, Hilton Garden Inn, Allen, TX | March 2008 to February 2012
- Facilitated staff hiring, personnel changes, and conflict resolution
- Maintained all stages of the recruitment process including job fairs, interviewing, salary negotiation, and new employee onboarding
- Oversaw all daily HR functions including salary and bonus planning, staffing, performance management, and reporting/analytics
- Created job descriptions and new hire training plans
- Drove organization design, workforce planning, and sourcing and staffing
Human Resources Assistant, Kramer Industries, Austin, TX | June 2004 to January 2008
- Reconciled payroll and taxes
- Helped develop company benefits packages
- Conducted ongoing employee training
- Planned monthly safety meetings and classes as head of company’s Safety Committee
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Human Resources, The University of Texas, Austin | 2004
Key Skills
- Benefits Administration
- Conflict Resolution
- Cost Reduction & Elimination
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Efficiency Improvement
- Employment Laws & Regulations
- Labor Relations & Negotiations
- Public Speaking & Presentations
- Talent Acquisition & Retention
Certifications
Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
Frequently Asked Questions: Human Resources Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for human resources resumes?+
The bullet points in your professional experience section are key to positioning yourself as a top candidate, and each one should start with a strong action verb that effectively describes your duties. But we know it can be hard to come up with a unique verb for each bullet, especially if you’re a senior-level applicant with a long job history. To help you get started, we’ve created a list of some common action verbs for human resources resumes.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Analyzed |
| Demonstrated | Developed |
| Ensured | Established |
| Facilitated | Fostered |
| Implemented | Managed |
| Onboarded | Oversaw |
| Prioritized | Recruited |
| Resolved | Safeguarded |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Job growth among human resources positions is expected to be faster than average through 2031. While this could mean less competition for available jobs, it’s still important to do what you can to position yourself as a top candidate. Sending out a targeted resume to each position can increase your chances of getting past applicant tracking systems and being called for an interview. Take a few minutes to review the job description and highlight specific qualifications, certifications, or key skills the hiring manager is looking for. Then, try to work these into your existing resume where possible.
What is the best human resources resume format?+
The best format for a human resources resume is either reverse chronological or a combination. A reverse chronological resume is more common and an excellent way to show a detailed work history in human resources and highlight specific skills and relevant education. A combination resume can help you organize your skills and experience by category if you feel like your work history is repetitive and isn’t showing your qualifications effectively.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
When you’re done customizing your resume, don’t forget to include a tailored cover letter. A human resources cover letter should be focused on what’s appealing to you about the company, such as how a core value or its mission statement matches your work philosophy. It’s also a good place to expand on any relevant career highlights from your resume.
